Auto-Deletion and Disappearing Messages in Messengers (Part 1)
How to Choose a Privacy-Focused Chat App
This article is split into two parts due to the volume of information. You can find the continuation here: "Auto-Deletion and Disappearing Messages in Messengers (Part 2)."
If you use messaging apps to share sensitive information-such as personal or financial data, passwords, or confidential documents-many services offer the option to enable auto-deletion for all chats or selected conversations.
This feature is especially useful for individuals and organizations facing high security risks, as well as for those traveling to dangerous regions.
Messengers That Support Auto-Deletion
Threema - Offers auto-deletion timers of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year.
WhatsApp - Supports disappearing messages after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. Works in both private and group chats.
Signal - Allows custom timers for all chats.
Viber - Offers deletion timers of 10 seconds, 1 minute, 1 hour, or 1 day. Must be activated per message.
Facebook Messenger - Requires creating a "Secret Chat" to enable message expiration.
Why Enable Auto-Deletion?
Messengers that use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) protect your message history from being read if your account is compromised. Even if an attacker gains access to your account, they won't be able to view past messages. However, this doesn't protect against physical access to your device. If there's a risk that someone could physically obtain your phone, enabling auto-deletion adds an extra layer of security.
Messengers with End-to-End Encryption
Signal - Encryption is always on. All chats are protected by default. Open-source and doesn't collect metadata.
WhatsApp - Encryption is always enabled for all messages and calls.
Viber - Encryption is on by default for private and group chats.
Facebook Messenger - End-to-end encryption is only available in "Secret Conversations" and must be manually activated.
Threema - Encryption is always active. You can register without a phone number. Minimal metadata collection.
Note: Facebook Messenger only offers end-to-end encryption in specific chat modes, which must be manually enabled. Most other messengers have encryption turned on by default.
Benefits of Auto-Deleting Messages
You won't forget to delete sensitive conversations.
Messages are deleted for all participants, not just you.
Even if your chat partner hasn't enabled the feature, messages will still disappear.
You can set a timer that suits your needs.
Auto-deletion can be applied to all chats or just the most sensitive ones.
Things to Keep in Mind
Messages sent before enabling auto-deletion won't be removed-you'll need to delete them manually.
You can't activate auto-deletion without notifying your chat partner. They'll receive a notification and see the timer settings.
Remember: security is a multi-layered process. It's essential to ensure both your messaging apps and devices are properly secured and configured.
How to Set Up Auto-Deletion in WhatsApp
If you use WhatsApp to exchange confidential or temporary information-like passwords, personal photos, work-related details, or financial data-the disappearing messages feature helps reduce your digital footprint. Sensitive messages often linger in chats indefinitely, and manually deleting them takes time. Auto-deletion allows you to automatically clear conversations after a set period.
In WhatsApp, this feature is called "Disappearing Messages." It's available for both private and group chats. Once activated, all new messages will automatically be deleted after the selected time frame: 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
Important: Auto-deletion doesn't apply to messages sent before the feature is turned on. Also, keep in mind that your chat partner can still save messages manually (e.g., by taking a screenshot or forwarding them).
How to Enable Disappearing Messages in WhatsApp
Open the chat with the contact or group.
Tap the contact's name or group title at the top of the screen.
Select "Disappearing Messages."
Choose your preferred message retention period:
24 hours
7 days
90 days
Tap "Set."
A notification will appear in the chat confirming that the feature is active. All new messages will now be automatically deleted after the selected time.
For Individual Chats
Tap the contact's name in the chat, go to the "Disappearing Messages" section, and enable the feature.
For Group Chats
Whether you can enable this feature depends on the group's settings. If admins allow all members to make changes, anyone in the group can activate or modify the timer. Otherwise, only admins can do so.
Keep in mind: If you don't trust your chat partner, disappearing messages may not offer much protection-messages can still be saved or screenshotted before they vanish.
WhatsApp Auto-Deletion Nuances
Messages sent before enabling the feature won't be deleted.
Unread messages will still disappear, though previews may show up in notifications.
If someone replies to a disappearing message, the quoted text might remain visible longer.
Forwarding a disappearing message to a chat without the feature will prevent it from being deleted.
If a backup is created before a message disappears, it will remain in the backup. Once restored, disappearing messages will be deleted.
If auto-download is enabled, media files (photos/videos) may stay on the device. You can disable this in WhatsApp under Settings > Storage and Data.
How to Set Up Auto-Deletion in Signal
If you use Signal to exchange sensitive information-such as personal data, passwords, or financial details-this feature can be extremely useful. Often, potentially risky content remains stored in Signal conversations for an indefinite period, and deleting it requires manual action from both participants. Disappearing messages allow you to automate the regular cleanup of chats containing sensitive material.
This feature can be enabled in selected chats. Once activated, messages will be deleted after the chosen period of time. A timer will appear, and a notification will be sent within the chat to confirm that the feature has been enabled.
Important: Auto-deletion does not apply to messages sent prior to enabling the feature.
How to Enable Auto-Deletion in Signal
Open the desired chat (this can be with an individual or a group).
Tap the user or group photo > Disappearing Messages > Choose the desired deletion time > Set.
How to Set Up Auto-Deletion in Threema
If you use Threema to exchange confidential information-such as personal data, passwords, private notes, or work-related details-the auto-deletion feature can help reduce risk. Sensitive messages often remain in chats for extended periods, and manually deleting them requires time and attention. Auto-deletion allows you to automatically clear chat history after a specified duration.
In Threema, this feature functions as automatic message cleanup based on how long messages have been stored. You can set a global timer for all chats, after which older messages will be deleted from your device.
Important: Auto-deletion only affects messages stored on your device. Messages on your contact's device will remain unless they enable the feature themselves.
How to Enable Auto-Deletion in Threema
Open the Threema app.
Go to Settings.
Select the Privacy or Data & Storage section.
Locate the option Delete messages after... or Message retention.
Choose the desired retention period:
1 week
1 month
3 months
6 months
1 year
All messages exceeding the selected time frame will be automatically deleted from your device without further action.
How to Set Up Auto-Deletion in Viber
If you use Viber to exchange sensitive information-such as personal photos, passwords, financial details, or temporary messages-the auto-deletion feature can be very helpful. These types of messages often remain in chats for a long time, and manually deleting them can be tedious. Viber allows you to send messages with a self-destruct timer, which automatically deletes them after they are read.
This feature is available in secret chats or as a timer for individual messages. You can choose how long a message remains visible after it has been read by the recipient.
Important: Auto-deletion applies only to messages for which you manually set a timer. Messages sent without a timer will remain in the chat.
How to Enable Auto-Deletion in Viber
Option 1: Timer for Individual Messages
Open the chat with the desired contact.
Tap the timer icon (hourglass) next to the message input field.
Choose the time after which the message will be deleted once read:
10 seconds
1 minute
1 hour
1 day
Type your message and send it-the timer will activate automatically.
Option 2: Secret Chat
Open the contact's profile.
Select "Start Secret Chat."
In the secret chat, all messages can have a self-destruct timer.
Tap the three dots > "Message Timer" > Choose the desired time.
All new messages in this chat will be automatically deleted after being read, according to the selected timer.
How to Set Up Auto-Deletion in Facebook Messenger
If you use Facebook Messenger to exchange sensitive information-such as personal data, photos, passwords, or temporary messages-the auto-deletion feature can help reduce risk. In standard chats, messages are stored indefinitely and must be deleted manually. However, Messenger includes a special mode that allows messages to be automatically deleted after a set period-this is called Vanish Mode.
This feature is available only in one-on-one chats. Once activated, all new messages will automatically disappear 24 hours after being viewed. Messenger also notifies you if someone takes a screenshot while Vanish Mode is active.
Important: Auto-deletion does not apply to messages sent before Vanish Mode is enabled. The feature is not available in group chats.
How to Enable Auto-Deletion in Facebook Messenger
Open the chat with the desired contact.
Swipe up on the chat screen-this activates Vanish Mode.
A message will appear confirming that Vanish Mode is enabled.
All new messages in this chat will automatically be deleted 24 hours after being viewed.
To disable Vanish Mode, simply swipe down or tap "Exit Vanish Mode."
FAQ
What is auto-deletion of messages?
Auto-deletion is a feature that allows messages in messengers to be automatically deleted after a certain period or after being read. It helps reduce your digital footprint and enhances privacy.
Are messages deleted for all chat participants?
In most messengers (such as WhatsApp, Signal, Viber, and Facebook Messenger), messages are deleted for all participants if auto-deletion is enabled. An exception is Threema, where messages are only deleted from your device unless your contact enables the feature as well.
Can deleted messages be recovered?
No, messages deleted through auto-deletion are generally not recoverable, especially in messengers with end-to-end encryption like Signal or WhatsApp. However, backups (such as those in WhatsApp) may retain messages until they are deleted.
Does auto-deletion protect against screenshots?
Auto-deletion does not prevent screenshots. In Facebook Messenger's Vanish Mode, you will receive a notification if someone takes a screenshot, but other messengers may not offer this feature. For maximum security, avoid sending sensitive information that could be captured in a screenshot.
Does auto-deletion work in group chats?
Yes, auto-deletion works in group chats in WhatsApp and Signal. In Viber, it is possible through secret chats or message timers. In Facebook Messenger, the feature is not available for group chats. In Threema, auto-deletion only applies to your device.
What should I do if auto-deletion is not working?
Ensure the feature is enabled for the specific chat. In WhatsApp, check whether messages are being saved in backups. In Threema, verify that the correct retention period is selected. If the issue persists, consult the messenger's documentation or contact technical support.
Conclusion
The auto-deletion feature in messengers such as Threema, WhatsApp, Signal, Viber, and Facebook Messenger is a powerful tool for protecting sensitive information and minimizing your digital footprint. It allows you to automate the removal of confidential data-such as passwords, personal photos, or financial details-which is especially important for users facing elevated risks or operating in dangerous environments.
Thanks to end-to-end encryption and flexible timer settings, these messengers offer an additional layer of security. However, for maximum effectiveness, it is essential to combine auto-deletion with other safety measures, such as strong passwords, device protection, and avoiding the forwarding or screenshotting of sensitive content.
Enable auto-deletion for your most sensitive chats and ensure that your contacts understand the importance of safeguarding information.
You may be interested in other articles on cybersecurity.
How to Stay Anonymous Online: A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Privacy
Communication Without a Trace: How to Avoid Compromise
How to Stay Safe While Working in Your Browser
Frequently Asked Questions About the Most Secure Messaging Apps
What You Need to Know About Data Encryption on the Internet
Auto-Deletion or Disappearing Messages in Messaging Apps (Part 2)
The Digital Shadow in a World of Surveillance. Honest review of NordVPN
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